Motorized trunk-closing system for automotive vehicle

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present invention is a motorized trunk-closing system for an automotive vehicle ( 1 ) comprising a trunk ( 2 ) having an interior and an operating mechanism for operating an automatic movement of a trunk lid ( 3 ) from a first position, in which the interior of the trunk ( 2 ) is accessible for a user, to a second position, in which the interior of the trunk ( 2 ) is shut off by said trunk lid ( 3 ), said operating mechanism comprising a trip device ( 5 ) placed level with the trunk in such a way as to be inaccessible from the outside of the automotive vehicle when the trunk lid ( 3 ) is in the second position. The trip device comprises at least one sensor ( 5 ) for detecting the presence of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject of the present invention is a motorized trunk-closing systemfor an automotive vehicle.

2. Description of Prior Art

Trunk-closing systems are already known in which the movement of thetrunk lid of a vehicle trunk from an opening position, in which theinterior of the trunk is accessible to the user, to a closing position,in which the interior of the trunk is shut off by the lid, is operatedautomatically by means of a motorized mechanism. The motorized mechanismis itself operated by an electric switch by which the motor can beswitched on. Such a system is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.6,185,868.

The drawback of such a system lies principally in the fact that it isnecessary for the user always to have a hand free to manipulate theelectric switch and thus operate the closing of the trunk. Now, if theuser is removing bulky and/or heavy objects from his trunk, it can bedifficult for him, on the one hand, to access the switch and, on theother hand, to actuate it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the previous drawbackby proposing a motorized trunk-closing system which is very simple touse.

More precisely, the subject of the present invention is a motorizedtrunk-closing system for an automotive vehicle, of the type comprising amechanism for operating an automatic movement of a trunk lid from afirst position, in which the interior of the trunk is accessible for auser, to a second position, in which the interior of the trunk is shutoff by said trunk lid, the operating mechanism comprises a trip deviceplaced level with the trunk in such a way as to be inaccessible from theoutside of the automotive vehicle when the trunk lid is in the secondposition, and is characterized in that the trip device comprises atleast one sensor for detecting the presence of the user.

Hence, the user has no need to manipulate any trip means whatsoever inorder to operate the closing of the trunk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS

The invention and the advantage which it procures will be betterunderstood from the following description of non-limiting examples, madewith reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a device according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second possible embodiment of a device according tothe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the two embodiments described, common elements bear the samereference. In the figures, a diagrammatic representation is given of anautomotive vehicle 1 comprising a trunk 2 at the rear. The trunk 2traditionally comprises a trunk lid 3 hinge-mounted so as to be able tobe movable between two end positions, a first position illustrated inthe figures, in which the interior of the trunk 2 is accessible for auser, and a second position (not represented), in which the interior ofthe trunk 2 is shut off by said trunk lid.

The automotive vehicle 1 additionally comprises two stays 4 a, 4 bconnecting the trunk lid 3 to the trunk in such a way as, in particular,to guide the movement of the lid between the two end positions. The twostays generally comprise two arms, which extend parallel to each otherbetween the trunk 2 and the trunk lid 3.

The closing of the trunk 2 is fully automated by virtue of a motorizedclosing system containing a motor (not represented), operating mechanismfor this motor comprising a control unit (not represented), for examplea microcontroller, and trip device situated inside the trunk.

According to the first embodiment represented in FIG. 1, the trip devicecomprise a presence sensor 5 positioned level with one of the stays 4 aconnecting the trunk 2 to the trunk lid 3. The sensor is linked by anelectrical connection (not represented) to the control unit. Preferably,the presence sensor is positioned on the inner side of the stay, facingthe other stay. The user, even with arms laden, can thereby pass closeto the sensor, within its detection zone, in an almost natural movementof removing objects from the interior of the trunk. The sensor thendetects the presence of the user and sends a detection message to thecontrol unit, which, in turn, operates the motor for the closing of thetrunk. The stays are advantageously made of a nonmetallic material, suchthat they do not disturb the electromagnetic field level with thesensor.

Other places situated inside the trunk can be chosen for the positioningof the sensor:

In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, thepresence sensor is fixed directly, for example by gluing, onto anindicator device 6 fitted to the automotive vehicle 1. This indicatordevice traditionally contains a housing 6 a enclosing the variousoptical and electrical components by which the traditional indicatorfunctions can be realized, and a glass 6 b sealing this housing. Moreprecisely, the sensor 5 is fixed on a part of the indicator device, thispart not being visible from the outside of the vehicle when the trunklid 3 is in its second, closing position.

Advantageously, a lateral part of the device, situated inside the trunk,as represented in FIG. 2, is chosen, such that the detection zone of thesensor is included within the passing zone of the user when the lattercomes to deposit objects or remove them from his trunk. In addition, thepart should preferably be made of a non-metallic material so as not tointerfere with the electromagnetic field of the sensor 5. Hence, a partof the housing 6 a of the indicator device will advantageously bechosen, this being made of plastics material.

By way of a variant, and if the shape of the indicator device lendsitself thereto, the sensor can also be fixed on a zone of the glasssealing the indicator device, subject to this glass zone being clearlyinaccessible from the outside of the vehicle when the trunk is closed.

In the two aforementioned embodiments, the sensitivity of the presencesensor, for example a capacitive-type sensor, must be optimally set sothat the detection zone is, on the one hand, sufficiently small for apresence detection not to culminate in all instances in an order toclose the trunk, yet, on the other hand, sufficiently large for the userwho has his arms laden not to have to make too great a movement toenable one of the parts of his body, especially his hand or his arm, toenter into the detection zone of the sensor when he wishes effectivelyto operate the closing of the trunk. In order to prevent any inadvertentcommand to close the trunk, a tactile sensor can be used which requiresthe user to touch the sensor. As a precautionary measure, the controlunit can also have a time delay added to it, which will delay thestart-up of the motor following a presence detection by the sensor, soas to give the user time to withdraw from the trunk compartment.

It will be appreciated that other positionings of the presence sensorinside the trunk are possible without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the event of the trunk lid being a tailgate, the presencesensor can be fixed, for example, level with the parcel shelf of thevehicle, at a place to which the user can gain access without any greateffort.

In addition, the trunk-closing system with presence sensor, such as ithas just been described, can belong more generally to a motorizedopening and closing system, another sensor being used to operate theopening. The system can likewise belong to a system which also performsthe locking and/or unlocking of the trunk lid when this is in theclosing position, for example a “hands-free”-type system, in which theunlocking followed by the opening, and/or the closing followed by thelocking, is only performed once the control unit of the system hasrecognized an authorized user by way of an identifier carried by theuser and sending a particular code to the system.

1. A motorized trunk-closing system for an automotive vehicle (1)comprising a trunk (2) having an interior and an operating mechanism foroperating an automatic movement of a trunk lid (3) from a firstposition, in which the interior of the trunk (2) is accessible for auser, to a second position, in which the interior of the trunk (2) isshut off by the trunk lid (3), the operating mechanism comprising a tripdevice (5) placed within the trunk in such a way as to be inaccessiblefrom the outside of the automotive vehicle when the trunk lid (3) is inthe second position, wherein the trip device comprises at least onesensor (5) having a detection zone located inside the interior of thetrunk for directly detecting the presence of the user when a body of theuser is within the detection zone of the sensor.
 2. The motorizedtrunk-closing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automotivevehicle comprises stays (4 a, 4 b) connecting the trunk lid (3) to thetrunk (2) in such a way as to guide the movement of the trunk lid (3)from the first position to the second position, and wherein the presencesensor (5) is positioned on one (4 a) of the stays.
 3. The motorizedtrunk-closing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stays comprisetwo arms extending in parallel between the trunk lid (3) and the trunk,and wherein the presence sensor (5) is positioned on the inner side ofthe one (4 a) of the stays facing the other stay.
 4. The motorizedtrunk-closing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automotivevehicle comprises an indicator device (6) containing a housing (6 a) anda closing glass (6 b) and fixed to the rear of the vehicle, and whereinthe presence sensor (5) is positioned directly on a part of theindicator device which is not visible when the trunk lid (3) of thetrunk (2) is in the second position.
 5. The motorized trunk-closingsystem as claimed in claim 4, wherein the presence sensor (5) is fixedon the housing (6 a) of the indicator device (6).
 6. The motorizedtrunk-closing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the presence sensor(5) is fixed on a zone of the closing glass (6 b) situated inside thetrunk when the trunk lid (3) is in the second position.
 7. The motorizedtrunk-closing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the presence sensor(5) is a capacitive-type sensor.
 8. A motorized trunk-closing system foran automotive vehicle (1) comprising a trunk (2) having an interior andan operating mechanism for operating an automatic movement of a trunklid (3) from a first position, in which the interior of the trunk (2) isaccessible for a user, to a second position, in which the interior ofthe trunk (2) is shut off by the trunk lid (3), the operating mechanismcomprising a trip device (5) placed within the trunk in such a way as tobe inaccessible from the outside of the automotive vehicle when thetrunk lid (3) is in the second position, wherein the trip devicecomprises at least one sensor (5) for detecting the presence of theuser, wherein the presence sensor (5) is a tactile sensor which directlydetects the presence of the user accessing the interior of the trunkwhen the user physically contacts the sensor, and wherein the trunk lid(3) automatically moves from the first position to the second positionupon detection of the presence of the user by the sensor (5).